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Dekempeneer Y, Massa S, Santens F, Navarro L, Berdal M, Lucero MM, Pombo Antunes AR, Lahoutte T, Van Ginderachter JA, Devoogdt N, D'Huyvetter M. Preclinical Evaluation of a Radiotheranostic Single-Domain Antibody Against Fibroblast Activation Protein α. J Nucl Med 2023; 64:1941-1948. [PMID: 38040444 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.123.266381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast activation protein α (FAP) is highly expressed on cancer-associated fibroblasts of epithelial-derived cancers. Breast, colon, and pancreatic tumors often show strong desmoplastic reactions, which result in a dominant presence of stromal cells. FAP has gained interest as a target for molecular imaging and targeted therapies. Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) are the smallest antibody-derived fragments with beneficial pharmacokinetic properties for molecular imaging and targeted therapy. Methods: We describe the generation, selection, and characterization of a sdAb against FAP. In mice, we assessed its imaging and therapeutic potential after radiolabeling with tracer-dose 131I and 68Ga for SPECT and PET imaging, respectively, and with 131I and 225Ac for targeted radionuclide therapy. Results: The lead sdAb, 4AH29, exhibiting picomolar affinity for a distinct FAP epitope, recognized both purified and membrane-bound FAP protein. Radiolabeled versions, including [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-4AH29, [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-4AH29, and [131I]I-guanidinomethyl iodobenzoate (GMIB)-4AH29, displayed radiochemical purities exceeding 95% and effectively bound to recombinant human FAP protein and FAP-positive GM05389 human fibroblasts. These radiolabeled compounds exhibited rapid and specific accumulation in human FAP-positive U87-MG glioblastoma tumors, with low but specific uptake in lymph nodes, uterus, bone, and skin (∼2-3 percentage injected activity per gram of tissue [%IA/g]). Kidney clearance of unbound [131I]I-GMIB-4AH29 was fast (<1 %IA/g after 24 h), whereas [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-4AH29 exhibited slower clearance (8.07 ± 1.39 %IA/g after 24 h and 2.47 ± 0.18 %IA/g after 96 h). Mice treated with [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-4AH29 and [131I]I-GMIB-4AH29 demonstrated prolonged survival compared with those receiving vehicle solution. Conclusion: [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-4AH29 and [131I]I-GMIB-4AH29 enable precise FAP-positive tumor detection in mice. Therapeutic [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-4AH29 and [131I]I-GMIB-4AH29 exhibit strong and sustained tumor targeting, resulting in dose-dependent therapeutic effects in FAP-positive tumor-bearing mice, albeit with kidney toxicity observed later for [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-4AH29. This study confirms the potential of radiolabeled sdAb 4AH29 as a radiotheranostic agent for FAP-positive cancers, warranting clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tony Lahoutte
- Precirix NV/SA, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Medical Imaging, In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jo A Van Ginderachter
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; and
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nick Devoogdt
- Precirix NV/SA, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Medical Imaging, In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Matthias D'Huyvetter
- Precirix NV/SA, Brussels, Belgium;
- Department of Medical Imaging, In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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2
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van Schie L, Van Breedam W, Roels C, Schepens B, Frank M, Mehdipour AR, Laukens B, Nerinckx W, Santens F, Devos S, Rossey I, Thooft K, Vanmarcke S, Van Hecke A, Saelens X, Callewaert N. GlycoVHH: optimal sites for introducing N-glycans on the camelid VHH antibody scaffold and use for macrophage delivery. MAbs 2023; 15:2210709. [PMID: 37211816 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2023.2210709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
As small and stable high-affinity antigen binders, VHHs boast attractive characteristics both for therapeutic use in various disease indications, and as versatile reagents in research and diagnostics. To further increase the versatility of VHHs, we explored the VHH scaffold in a structure-guided approach to select regions where the introduction of an N-glycosylation N-X-T sequon and its associated glycan should not interfere with protein folding or epitope recognition. We expressed variants of such glycoengineered VHHs in the Pichia pastoris GlycoSwitchM5 strain, allowing us to pinpoint preferred sites at which Man5GlcNAc2-glycans can be introduced at high site occupancy without affecting antigen binding. A VHH carrying predominantly a Man5GlcNAc2 N-glycan at one of these preferred sites showed highly efficient, glycan-dependent uptake by Mf4/4 macrophages in vitro and by alveolar lung macrophages in vivo, illustrating one potential application of glyco-engineered VHHs: a glycan-based targeting approach for lung macrophage endolysosomal system delivery. The set of optimal artificial VHH N-glycosylation sites identified in this study can serve as a blueprint for targeted glyco-engineering of other VHHs, enabling site-specific functionalization through the rapidly expanding toolbox of synthetic glycobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loes van Schie
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wander Van Breedam
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Roels
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bert Schepens
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | | | - Bram Laukens
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Nerinckx
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Francis Santens
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Simon Devos
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Iebe Rossey
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karel Thooft
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- UGent Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sandrine Vanmarcke
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annelies Van Hecke
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Xavier Saelens
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nico Callewaert
- UGent Department of Biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
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3
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Thooft K, Van Breedam W, Santens F, Wyseure E, Vanmarcke S, Devos S, Callewaert N, Madder A. GlyConnect-Ugi: site-selective, multi-component glycoprotein conjugations through GlycoDelete expressed glycans. Org Biomol Chem 2022; 20:464-471. [PMID: 34913461 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob02299g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Recently, the GlyConnect-oxime (GC) protein conjugation strategy was developed to provide a site-selective glycan-based conjugation strategy as an extension to the in-house developed GlycoDelete (GD) technology. GD gives access to glycoproteins with single GlcNAc, LacNAc, or LacNAc-Sia type glycans on their N-glycosylation sites. We have previously shown that these glycans provide a unique handle for site-selective conjugation as they provide a short, homogeneous and hydrophilic link to the protein backbone. GC focused on the use of chemical and chemo-enzymatic pathways for conjugation of a single molecule of interest via oxime formation or reductive amination. In the current work, we explore multicomponent reactions (MCR), namely Ugi and Passerini reactions, for GlycoDelete glycan directed, site-specific protein conjugation (MC-GC). The use of the Ugi and Passerini multicomponent reactions holds the potential of introducing multiple groups of interest in a single reaction step while creating a hydrophilic peptide-like linker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel Thooft
- Organic and Biomimetic Chemistry Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Belgium. .,Medical Biotechnology Centre, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.,Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, Technologiepark 75, B-9052 Zwijnaarde-Gent
| | - Wander Van Breedam
- Medical Biotechnology Centre, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.,Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, Technologiepark 75, B-9052 Zwijnaarde-Gent
| | - Francis Santens
- Medical Biotechnology Centre, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.,Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, Technologiepark 75, B-9052 Zwijnaarde-Gent
| | - Elise Wyseure
- Medical Biotechnology Centre, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.,Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, Technologiepark 75, B-9052 Zwijnaarde-Gent
| | - Sandrine Vanmarcke
- Medical Biotechnology Centre, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.,Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, Technologiepark 75, B-9052 Zwijnaarde-Gent
| | - Simon Devos
- Medical Biotechnology Centre, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.,Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, Technologiepark 75, B-9052 Zwijnaarde-Gent
| | - Nico Callewaert
- Medical Biotechnology Centre, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.,Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, Technologiepark 75, B-9052 Zwijnaarde-Gent
| | - Annemieke Madder
- Organic and Biomimetic Chemistry Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Belgium.
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Piron R, Santens F, De Paepe A, Depicker A, Callewaert N. Author Correction: Using GlycoDelete to produce proteins lacking plant-specific N-glycan modification in seeds. Nat Biotechnol 2020; 38:503. [DOI: 10.1038/s41587-020-0464-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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5
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Santens F, Meuris L, Boone M, Callewaert N. GlycoDelete technology: shortcutting mammalian cell N-glycosylation. N Biotechnol 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2014.05.957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Meuris L, Santens F, Elson G, Festjens N, Boone M, Dos Santos A, Devos S, Rousseau F, Plets E, Houthuys E, Malinge P, Magistrelli G, Cons L, Chatel L, Devreese B, Callewaert N. GlycoDelete engineering of mammalian cells simplifies N-glycosylation of recombinant proteins. Nat Biotechnol 2014; 32:485-9. [PMID: 24752077 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Heterogeneity in the N-glycans on therapeutic proteins causes difficulties for protein purification and process reproducibility and can lead to variable therapeutic efficacy. This heterogeneity arises from the multistep process of mammalian complex-type N-glycan synthesis. Here we report a glycoengineering strategy--which we call GlycoDelete--that shortens the Golgi N-glycosylation pathway in mammalian cells. This shortening results in the expression of proteins with small, sialylated trisaccharide N-glycans and reduced complexity compared to native mammalian cell glycoproteins. GlycoDelete engineering does not interfere with the functioning of N-glycans in protein folding, and the physiology of cells modified by GlycoDelete is similar to that of wild-type cells. A therapeutic human IgG expressed in GlycoDelete cells had properties, such as reduced initial clearance, that might be beneficial when the therapeutic goal is antigen neutralization. This strategy for reducing N-glycan heterogeneity on mammalian proteins could lead to more consistent performance of therapeutic proteins and modulation of biopharmaceutical functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leander Meuris
- 1] Unit for Medical Biotechnology, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), VIB, Ghent, Belgium. [2] Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. [3]
| | - Francis Santens
- 1] Unit for Medical Biotechnology, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), VIB, Ghent, Belgium. [2] Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. [3]
| | - Greg Elson
- 1] NovImmune SA, Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland. [2]
| | - Nele Festjens
- 1] Unit for Medical Biotechnology, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), VIB, Ghent, Belgium. [2] Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Morgane Boone
- 1] Unit for Medical Biotechnology, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), VIB, Ghent, Belgium. [2] Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Simon Devos
- Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Evelyn Plets
- 1] Unit for Medical Biotechnology, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), VIB, Ghent, Belgium. [2] Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Erica Houthuys
- 1] Unit for Medical Biotechnology, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), VIB, Ghent, Belgium. [2] Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | | | - Laura Cons
- NovImmune SA, Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Bart Devreese
- Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nico Callewaert
- 1] Unit for Medical Biotechnology, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), VIB, Ghent, Belgium. [2] Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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7
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Nagels B, Santens F, Weterings K, Van Damme EJM, Callewaert N. Improved sample preparation for CE-LIF analysis of plant N-glycans. Electrophoresis 2011; 32:3482-90. [PMID: 22102066 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201100268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Revised: 07/17/2011] [Accepted: 07/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In view of glycomics studies in plants, it is important to have sensitive tools that allow one to analyze and characterize the N-glycans present on plant proteins in different species. Earlier methods combined plant-based sample preparations with CE-LIF N-glycan analysis but suffered from background contaminations, often resulting in non-reproducible results. This publication describes a reproducible and sensitive protocol for the preparation and analysis of plant N-glycans, based on a combination of the 'in-gel release method' and N-glycan analysis on a multicapillary DNA sequencer. Our protocol makes it possible to analyze plant N-glycans starting from low amounts of plant material with highly reproducible results. The developed protocol was validated for different plant species and plant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bieke Nagels
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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